Arch-support.



J. W. AR-ROWSMITH.

ABGH SUPPORT.

' APPLICATION FILED r2347, 1909.

Attest: i Inventor:

- Attj COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH cm. WASHINGTON. D. c.

' Pater med Nov. 4, 1913.

JAMES w.

ARROWSMITH, F MORBISTGWN, NEWJERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TO ARROWSMITH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

' ARCH-SUPPORT.

specification of Letters Patent. Application riled February. 17, 1909. Serial No. 478,461.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

ZhaZZw/mm'z't may concern: y Be itknown that I,"JAMr.s W. Annow- SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident. of the city of Morristown, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arch-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to supports for the arch of the human instep, used ordinarily for the relief and cure of what is commonly called fiat-foot. Its objects are, among others, to provide a simple stron and effective support which may be a justed to fit difl'erent feet and to correct deformity from time to time, and which will retain its shape and resist the weight imposed upon it and the tendency toward crystallization of the metal which almost invariably termi v nates the usefulness of supports of this character.

It also has for one of its objects the provision of'a comparatively rigid portion at the apex of the arch which is beneath the 5 astra alus, while atthe same time providing a su cient area of resilient and flexible metal to give the device a proper spring and permit adjustment.

The improvements consist in the construction and combination of parts herein described and illustrated'in the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings Figure 1 is'anunderside view of an instep support embodying the improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical medial section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1. j

The plate A is approximately trlangular 40 in form and is designed to fit the cavity of the plantar fascia between the protuberance of the calcaneum and the metatarsal bones. It has 2. turned up portion at its inner edge provided with slits A arranged substan 5 tially on radial lines drawn from the oint A at the opposite side, which slits divide the turned up portion into fingers which may be adjusted according to the position of the bones at the apex of the arch and particularly the astragalus, navicularand cuneiform bones.

The substantially triangular plate A is superimposed upon the plate B ofsubstantially spatulate form adapted to extend from a point beneath the os-calcis to the anterior end. of the first metatarsal, both plates being arranged in such a manner that the upper surface presented by them conforms to the arch of the instep from'end to end and from side'to side. They are joined together by rivets or other fastenings D located at the front and rear extremities respectively of the plate A and near the inner edge of the plate B between the curved rib C and the said edge. The cover E of non-metallicmaterial is also secured to the plates by the same fastenings.

The rib or boss G extends longitudinally of the plate B and gradually merges in the said plate at its ends, which ends are located beneath the edges of the plate A. This rib has a widened part at its center and at the apex of the arch of the plate, extending in the direction of the point A of the plate A.

The other edge of the rib is preferably anuninterrupted curve.

The form and arrangement of the two plates and the rib C are of great importance to the desired results, and while they may be varied within certain limits without departing from the spirit of the invention, the

anatomical requirements of the support necessitate substantial adherence to the fea tures of construction and arrangement of these parts with respect to each other hereinafter claimed. The. plate A may be made to conform to the cavity of the plantar fasem, but owing to the fact that it has no portion extending beyond this cavity it cannot support itself in'an elevated position nor be adjusted to meet differentconditions of the foot, and the plate B therefore becomes 3 necessaryto elevate the plate A and provide for this vertical adjustment as well as the adjustment of this portion with respect to the horizontal. Again it is not in all cases desirable to make the portion of the instep support represented by the plate A integral with the extending portion, as when so constructed some of the adjustments tend to render the position of this portion of the support withrespect to the bones forming the upper part of the arch incorrect. By forming the plates A and B, as shown and mounting the former on the latter I am enabled to maintain the correct position and adjustment of the portion of the plate beneath the upper arch and at the same time adjust it in various ways, adjust the portion of the support beneath the lower part of the arch and, also adjust the upper plate when desired, without having the adjustment of one interfere with the other.

Other important features of the construction and arrangement are the fasteninand the rib C especially the latter. By providing this rib beneath the plate A, extending longitudinal of the plate B more strength and rigidity are provided where f such strength and rigidity are mostneeded, and by extending the rib at its center and apex of the arch in the direction of the outer side additional strength is provided at this point and at the same time a check or barrier is provided which will effectively interrupt crystallization and intercept the weakened lines resulting therefrom, which, in time would end in the cracking and breaking down of the plate. The location and form of this rib are such that it does not interfere with necessary adjustment of the resiliency of the support and the ends of the rib merging in the surface of the plate B not only permit a gradual increase in resiliency toward the ends of the plate but prevent crystallization and cracking at these parts.

What I claim is:

'1. The combination of a plate curved to approximate the arch of the instep and extending from the calcaneum to the anterior .nietatarsus, and a longitudinal rib or boss in the medial portion of said plate having an enlargement at the center extending in the direction of the outside of the foot.

2. The combination of a plate curved to approximate the arch of the instep and extending from the calcaneum to the anterior nietatarsus, a longitudinal rib or boss in the medial portion of said plate having an enlargement at the center extending in the direction of the outside or the foot, and a second plate also arched to fit the instep superimposed upon the first plate having its forward and rear edges near the ends of said rib.

3. The combination of a. plate curved to approximate the arch of the instep and extending from. the calcaneum to the anterior metatarsus, a longitudinal rib or boss in the medial portion of said plate having an enlargement at the center extending in the direction of the outside of the foot, and a second plate also arched to fit the instep superimposed upon the first plate having its forward and rear edges near the ends of the said rib, and a connection between the two plates located between the rib and the inner edge of the first named plate.

4. The combination of a plate curved to approxin'iate the arch of the instep and ex tending from the calcaneum to the anterior nietatarsus, and a longitudinal rib or in the medial portion of said plate having an enlargement at the center extending in the direction of the outside of the foot, the said rib increasing in depth toward the center.

5. The combination of a plate curved to approximate the arch of the instep and extending from the base of the heel to the-ball of the foot, :1 second plate extendin from a point forward of the base of the lleel to a point short of the ball of the foot, the said first named plate being provided with alongitudinal rib or boss corresponding substantially with the width of the said second late.

6. %'he combination of a plate curved to approximate the arch of the instep and extending from the base of the heel to the ball of the foot, :1 second plate extending from a point forward of the base of the heel to a point short of the ball of the foot. the. said first named late being provided with a longitudinal rib or boss correspond ing substantially with the width of the said second plate, said rib having an enlargement near the middle of the first named plate.

7. The combination of a plate curved to approximate the arch of the instep and extending from the calcaneum to the anterior metatarsus and a longitudinal rib or boss in the medial portion of said plate having a lateral enlargement at the center.

Witness my hand this 15th day of F ebruary, 1909.

JAMES W. ARROWBMITH. Witnesses:

LILLIAN B. SHERMAN, JOHN H. BONSALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents mh, by addressing the Oommluioner of htentl, wuhlngton, D. 0." 

